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Definition of startnext
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as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream

Synonyms & Similar Words

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start

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noun

starting

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adjective

starting

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verb (2)

present participle of start
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word start different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of start are begin, commence, inaugurate, initiate, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How is begin related to other words for start?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How does the word commence relate to other synonyms for start?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace start?

The meanings of inaugurate and start largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

In what contexts can initiate take the place of start?

Although the words initiate and start have much in common, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of start?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of start
Verb
The Red Sox needed infield help and the club was overflowing with starting pitching depth. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026 Youmans said repaving could start as soon as June 8. Rose Evans may 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026
Noun
Before Friday’s start, Severino appeared to be hitting a hot streak, surrendering more than two earned runs in just one of his previous six starts, including a seven-inning gem against the Los Angeles Angels on May 21. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2026 Yeah, maybe that’s an argument for another time, but yeah, that’s a good start here. AFAR Media, 30 May 2026
Adjective
Durbin was in the starting lineup just three times in a 10-game stretch from May 17 to May 27. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 June 2026 New starting lineup Nakase had stuck with the same starting lineup for each of the Valkyries’ first seven games this season, with Burton, Williams, Kaila Charles, Kayla Thornton and Kiah Stokes opening games. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
Verb
There are floors of exhibits that tell not just the story of the former president and first lady, but also the story of the nation, starting with the Declaration of Independence. Tamara Keith, NPR, 4 June 2026 Saturday, June 6 A spirited staple of KC Pride, floats and members of the LGBTQIA+ community will march starting at Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard. Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Verb
  • As the journey progresses, a male driver and his female companion (neither pictured on-screen) begin to discuss the Winkie.
    Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Herein, begins the first of many game drives.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Work will commence in the next 60 days and should be complete by the end of June 2027.
    Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
  • But the City Council will need to sign off on those plans before building can commence, including how much of the sales tax revenue from the stadium will go toward paying off the city’s bond debt.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • By then, the Dodgers had already established a lead.
    Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • In 1875 a cemetery, where today an annual Decoration Day commemoration (the original name for Memorial Day) is held on the first Sunday of May, was established.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Raven Room is a great spot for happy hour, and the owners have been going to great lengths lately to activate the space with programming such as live music.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Mercury in Cancer, for instance, activates your partnership sector — followed by the sun later this month — bringing focus to romantic, business or close one-on-one dynamics.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • The noon filing deadline represented the last chance for candidates to jump into the competitive contests ahead of the August primaries.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
  • In one particularly embarrassing incident for the agency, a man not only jumped the fence but got to the front door of the White House and entered before being apprehended.
    Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Elsewhere on the trophy, there are the original rules to soccer, from 1863, which include a proscription on players having nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha—a Malaysian rubberlike material, now used in root canals—protruding from their boots.
    Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • The cups also feature a more angular design, visibly protruding rather than gradually curving.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • City Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy began raising the issue at the beginning of this month, and saw their resolution calling on the mayor to restore the cut backed, by an 11-0 vote, by the City Council.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026
  • Lewis will be eligible to return to the major league roster for the beginning of a three-game series against the White Sox that starts Monday at Target Field.
    John Shipley, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Participants underwent an initial baseline assessment and were assigned individualized vagus nerve stimulation protocols designed by Pulsetto’s clinical team.
    Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
  • Trump’s initial director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, resigned last month, citing her husband’s recent cancer diagnosis.
    Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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